JCTC: Nismo Skyline Motegi race report

Tough Weekend for No. 22 Nismo Skyline in Motegi
Qualifying
Michael qualified his Nissan Skyline, which is carrying 60 Kg of success
ballast, in eleventh position for Sundays race. Michael opted to use the
harder compound Bridgestone tyres,...

Tough Weekend for No. 22 Nismo Skyline in Motegi

Qualifying
Michael qualified his Nissan Skyline, which is carrying 60 Kg of success
ballast, in eleventh position for Sundays race. Michael opted to use the
harder compound Bridgestone tyres, taking a gamble that the weather
improves on Sunday and the longer lasting tyres maybe an advantage.

"We have really struggled to find a nice balance with our car. We are
not sure what it is, maybe the ballast we have to carry is really
upsetting the car - but I think it maybe more than that. With the hard
compound tyres I used in qualifying, it is not a bad result and if the
weather co-operates Sunday we may be able to get into a good points
position." Michael commented.

Race
From the start of the race, Michael suffered with a very difficult car to
drive and did not manage to improve on his grid position. Unusually
Michael actually lost a couple of places and handed the car over to
Tanaka in fourteenth position.

Tanaka continued to lap at the same pace as Michael and bought the car
home in tenth place, as other competitors retired due to mechanical
failures.

"The car was very difficult to drive again today and although it was
warmer the hard tyres worked against us in the end. We are now second in
the championship with a couple of races left, so let's just see what
happens at the next one. " Michael commented.